Figures released in the last week by Eurostat paint a mixed picture for milk production across member states in Europe for May – the peak month for milk production in most countries. In Ireland, milk production for May was down 0.5% compared with last year at 991m litres.

For the first five months of 2018 (Jan-May), Irish milk production is now 2% behind last year at just over 2.8bn litres. Given the current drought conditions, this trend is likely to continue into the back end of the year.

Across the water in the UK, which is the third-largest dairy producer in Europe, May milk production increased almost 1% year on year to 1.4bn litres.

However, UK milk production from January to May is still slightly behind last year (-0.4%) at 6.2bn litres.

Milk production in the Netherlands continues its trend of decline in 2018, with May production down 1.5% year on year to 1.2bn litres.

Dutch milk production up to May stood at 5.8bn litres – down 2% on the same period last year.

In Germany, the largest milk-producing country in Europe, May milk collections from farmers increased strongly by almost 4% to just over 2.8bn litres.

In France, milk collections for May increased just under 1% year on year to 2.2bn litres. With the current heatwave hitting northern Europe particularly hard, further declines in monthly milk production are likely for June and July in Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands.

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